Aeroplane.



F. ROGALA.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED 0m21.191s.

Patented May 9, 1916.

F. ROGALA.

AEROPLANE.

APPucAnoN man 021:.27. 1915. 1,182,317. Patented May 9,1916.

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I Snom/H015 Jfoeya/a attorney,

F. ROGALA.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED 0m21.191s.

Patented May 9,1916.

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FRANK ROGALA, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

AEROPLAN'E.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

- Patente@ May e, 1916.

Application led December 27, 1915. Seiial No. 68,856.

To all whom it .may concern Be it known that I, FRANK ROGALA, a subject of the Czar of Russia, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in -Aeropla7nes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in aeroplanes.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an aeroplane of the kind commonly known as bi-planes, the same being of light and strong construction having eiicient controllin devices.

A further obJect of the device is the provision of a bi-plane structure having similar forward and rear'bi-planes normally arranged parallel, the rear plane being of less dimensions than the forward plane and swingingly mounted' for steering the air craftin its iiight.

A still further object is to provide a. iiying machine havin transversely arranged normally parallel bi-planes, the forward bi'- plane being of greater dimensions and accommodating propellingdevices and having a hinged elevation controlling section while the rear bi-plane is swingingly mounted in specially designed anti-friction brack-y ets and is readily shifted by the operator positioned in the forward bi-plane for the purpose of steering the devices.

With the'se general objects in view and others that will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described,

illustrated in the accompanying drawings and then claimed.

In the drawings forming a part'of this application and in which like designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a to plan view of the device with the top portlon of the. forward bi-plane removed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the front bi-plane detached and with the propelling means rel steering device. Fig. 7 is an enlarged secmoved therefrom. Fig. 4 is a central transverse sectional view through the rearv Steering portion of the device, the steering plane being shown in dotted lines in its shifted position. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the steering device partially broken away. Fig. 6 yis a transverse sectional view through the tional view through a portion of the steer- 1ng bi-plane showing the anti-friction guide means therefor, and Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view through the upper portion of the steering plane adjacent the anti-friction hanger.

The present formi of aeroplane broadly consists of a forward bi-.plane l0 of vthe form best illustrated in Fig. 3 .of the drawings -and havingtapered reai'wardly eX- tending parallel skeleton framesfll to the rear ends of which a steering bi-plane' 12 is shiftably mounted, the said bi-plane 12 being of less dimensions than the forward plane 10. A supporting bracket 13 for the aeroplane is darranged beneath the forward plane 10 havlng ground engaging wheels 14 by means of which the device may be moved over a supporting vsurface'.

The propelling means fr the device consists of two revolubly mounted propellers 15 spaced apart forwardly of the bi-plane 10 and also of a single propeller 16 arranged centrally between the skeleton' frameslll at the rear of the plane 10. Operating motors 17 are provided in the forward plane 10 for revolving the said propellers, these motors being geared to a sin- Vgle drive shaft 18 arranged longitudinally within the forward bi-plane 10.

The forward propellers 15 are provided with shafts 19 having geared connections with stub shafts 20, the latter being adapted for operative connection with the opposite ends of the main shaft 1 8 by means of separate clutches 21, each having an individual operating lever 22. .The intermediate propeller 16 is provided with a shaft 23 having operative connections with a stub shaft 24 geared to the main shaft 18 by means of a clutch 25 having an operating lever 26.

A well or hole 27 is arranged in the bottom or deck 28 of the forward bi-plane 10 for accommodating the operator of the device and a forward deck 29 projects between the propellers 15 and is provided with any desirable form of gun or ordnance 30. The top orunperplane 31 of the forward biplane 10 is provided with a hinged central section 32 having a hand operating lever 33 wherebv the section 32 is tilted to a desired angle and retained by means of a pawl 34 engaging the teeth of a segment rack 35.

It will thus be understood that the forward course of the device is controlled by the velocity of revolution of the propellers 15 andV 16 as effected by the motors 17, it being possible to operate any of the said propellers separately or in unison as may be found desirable under the control of the clutch levers 22 and 26. By regulating the inclination of the shiftable plane section 32 by means of the operating lever 33 thereof, the elevation of the device is controlled by the "operaton A The rear and relatively smaller bi-plane 12 is centrally pivoted by means of a shaft -36 journaled in a Ul-shaped frame 37 supported by a transverse bracket 38 connecting the skeleton frames 11 at a point adjacent their rear ends. The said steering plane 12 is provided with a plurality of transverse plates 39 adapted to afford air contacting faces for assisting in the steering operation by their resistance to the air.

The rear ends of the skeleton frames 11 are each provided with parallel mounting arms 40 having pairs of rollers 41 at their free ends. The inner faces of the top and bottom members 42 and 43 of the steering bi-plane 12 are provided with transversely arranged arcuate guides 44 within which the pairsof rollers 41 are operatively positioned and whereby the bi-plane 12 is supported shiftably in connection with v the aforementioned pivot shaft 36.

Steering cords 45 are attached adjacent the opposite ends of the steering plane l12 and are arranged over pulleys 46 within the forward plane 10 being reversely wound upon a drum 47 which may be turned by the operator through the agency of a crank 48. It will thus be evident that by turning the said crank 48 in opposite directions, the steering plane 12 may be'shifted on the pivot shaft 32 for controlling the lateral movement of the device and whereby the latter is steered in the desired direction.

A bi-plane of great strength and of light weight is thus arranged being easily' controlled both as to its speed and its direction 'of flight, the steering plane 12 being the important feature and mounting thereof in the special form of frame and forward plane now designed.

While the form of the invention herein shown and described is what is believed to be the preferable embodiment thereof, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made in therform, proportion and details of construction without de-- parting from the spirit andl scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

1. An aeroplane comprising a forward biplane, rearwardly extending tapered parallel skeleton frames carried bythe 'said biplane, a steering bi-plane centrally pivoted adjacent the rear ends of the said skeleton frames, antifriction supporting guide means for'the said steering plane upon the rear ends of the said frames and shifting means for the said steering plane operable within the said forward plane.

2. A device of the class described comprising a main forward bi-plane, motor driven controllable operating propellers carried by the said main plane, an adjustably tiltable elevating means upon the said'forward plane, rearwardly extending parallel skeleton frames carried by the said plane, and a steering bi-plane pivotally mounted at the rear of the said frames.

3. A device of the class described 'comprising a main forward bi-plane,-' motor driven -controllable operating propellers carried by the said main plane, an adjustably tiltable elevating means upon the said forward plane, rearwardly extending parallel skeleton frames carried by the said plane, a transverse bracket connecting the said frames adjacent the rear ends thereof, a rearwardly U-shaped member centrally arranged between the said frames upon the said bracket, a steering bi-plane centrally pivoted in the said U-shaped member with the free ends of the said skeleton frames arranged between the top and bottom thereof, parallel arms carried by' said free ends of the skeleton frames, arcuate guides upon the inner faces of the top and bottom members of the said steering plane, pairs. of antifriction rollers journaled in the free ends of the said frame carried arms operatively positioned within the said guides and controlling cords attached to the opposite ends of the said steering plane and extending inwardly of the said main frame.

4. A Hying machine comprising a forward l bi-plane, rearwardly extending skeleton frames carried thereby, a transverse bracket connecting the said frames adjacent the rear ends thereof, a rearwardly U-shaped member centrally arranged between the said frames upon the said bracket, a steering biplane centrally pivoted in the said U-shaped member with the free ends of the said skeleton frames arranged between the top and bottom thereof, parallel arms carried by said free ends of the skeleton frames, arcuate guides upon the inner faces of the top and bottom members of the said steering plane, pairs of anti-friction rollers journaled in the free ends 4of the said frame carried arms operatively positioned within the said guides and controlling cords attached to the opposite ends of the said steering plane and extending inwardly of the said main frame.

5. A device of the class described comprising a forward loi-plane having a top and bottom, an operators well in the bottom of said plane, a section of the top of the said plane being rearwardly hinged in tiltable relation with the plane, an adjustable tilting means for the said top section, rearwardly frames.

6. A device of the class described comprising a forward bi-plane having a top and bottom, an operators well in the bottom of said plane, a section of the top of the said plane being rearwardly hinged in tiltable relation with the plane, an adjustable tilting means for the said top section, rearwardly extending parallel skeleton frames carried by the said plane, a transverse bracket connecting the said frames adjacent the rear ends thereof, a rearwardly U-shaped member centrally arranged between the said frames upon the said bracket, a steering biplane centrally pivoted in the said U-shaped member with the free ends of the said skeleton frames arranged between the top and bottom thereof, parallel arms carried by said free ends of the skeleton frames, arcuate guides upon the inner faces of the top and bottom members of the said steering plane, pairs of anti-friction rollers journaled in the free ends of the said frame carried arms operatively positioned within the said guides and controlling cords attached to the opposite ends of the said steering 'plane and eX- tending inwardly of the said main frame.

7. A device of the class described com-v prising a forward bi-plane, opposite propellers arranged forwardly of the said biplane, a revoluble propeller arranged centrally and rearwardly of the said bi-plane, an elevating section carried by the said biplane, rearwardly extending frames carried x by the said bi-plane and a manually shiftable steering bi-plane similar in form and of less dimensions than the said forward plane pivotally supported by the rear por` tions of the said rearwardly extending i frames.

In testimony whereof' I aifiX my signature.

FRANK RGALA. 

